Relationship between serum vitamin D levels and inflammatory markers in acute stroke patients.

INTRODUCTION

Low serum vitamin D levels are associated with the development of poststroke depression (PSD). Inflammatory markers play an important role in pathophysiology of PSD. The relationship between vitamin D levels and inflammatory markers has been discussed in nonstroke individuals. The purposes of this study were to explore the relationship between vitamin D levels and inflammatory markers in acute stroke patients and examine the effect of vitamin D and inflammatory markers on PSD.

METHODS

A total of 152 acute stroke patients were recruited. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and inflammatory markers were measured by standardized laboratory methods. Depression symptoms were assessed with the 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17). Patients with the HAMD-17 scores ≥7 were identified to have depression symptoms.

RESULTS

Serum vitamin D levels were negatively correlated with serum levels of interleukin-6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) ( = -.244,  = .002;  = -.231,  = .004). Multiple regression analysis showed that interleukin-6 and hsCRP levels were associated with vitamin D levels ( = -0.355,  = .003;  = -2.085,  = .006), whereas age, height, weight, leukocyte count, neutrophil ratio, and lymphocyte rate could be omitted without changing the results. In multivariate analyses, the serum levels of vitamin D and interleukin-6 were associated with the development of PSD after adjusted possible variables (OR = 0.976, 95% CI: 0.958-0.994,  = .009; OR = 1.029, 95% CI: 1.003-1.055,  = .027).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum vitamin D levels are inversely associated with the levels of interleukin-6 and hsCRP, suggesting a potential anti-inflammatory role for vitamin D in stroke individuals.